Mémoire
| Résumé : | Since the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, European integration has increased regularly in size and scope. However, until recently this integrating process had never affected the defence sector in depth. In this sense, the launch of the European Defence Fund in 2017 by the European Commission marks a watershed, as it is the first supranational programme fully-funded with community funds. The focus of this research is this innovative programme, which aims to serve as a tool for a more coherent and efficient European defence sector. This work aims to explore the drivers behind the decision made by France, Italy and Germany to support the action undertaken by the European Commission. To do so, relative gains theory will be applied to the European integration scenario. Following a process-tracing methodology, this research argues that, in addition to systemic pressures, other factors have influenced France’s, Italy’s and Germany’s decision, notably its relative position within the European Union and its position vis-à-vis other EU Member States. |
